2016 Duathlon

We were greeted with early morning fog once again which like last year, cleared to become a sunny day which made for excellent racing conditions. A flurry of late entries saw 46 solo competitors along with 6 relay teams take to the fells for the second running of race. Birthday boy and former Triathlon World Champion, Harry Coates led from the off to dispatch the first run in a blistering time of 30.46. Phil Marsden, who was second off the run managed to take 32 seconds out of Harry’s lead with a quick bike lap but there was no catching Harry on the final run, completing the course in a time of 1:54:10, almost four minutes inside the previous course record. Coming all the way from North Wales, Andy Raho’s strong second run secured the final podium position.

The women’s race was taken for the second time by Donna Edmondson -Booker though she had to fight for it. Sarah Vickers beat her into the first transition and was still only 42 seconds behind Donna after a rapid bike lap. However, Donna dug deep and held onto the top podium stop to finish in 2:16:53. The third podium position was claimed by Lisa Grantham of Chester Tri Club.

Andy Lynex of Calderdale Tri Club took the V40 prize with Graham Morris once again taking the V50 prize and finishing 8th overall.

The relay competition was ferociously fought as always with each team member going all out on each leg seeing less reason to hold anything back. Michael Huggins and Phil Taylor of Rossendale Harriers were first into the first transition though mixed team of Rachel and Robert Pilling had taken a 41 second lead by the start of the final run with Dave Bradley and Drew Webster only 16 seconds behind that. The Rossendale duo therefore had to call on Phil’s fell running expertise and took the top spot on the podium thanks the 4th fastest run second run by Phil. Dave and Drew edged the mixed team from Burnden Road Runners by 8 seconds to take the second step.

Adam Robinson had no reason to rearrange the ornaments on his mantelpiece taking the trophy for the fastest bike time once again in a ridiculously fast time of 46.11, only 29 seconds short of his own record. Donna Edmondson-Booker had saved herself a similar job by taking the women’s trophy in 55.21, only 12 seconds short of her own record. Will this turn into an annual tradition?!

Thank you to Craig and his team at the Hare and Hounds for once again making a good event into a great one by their hospitality and generosity with their prizes of two meals with a bottle of wine.

Thank you to our official sponsor Woodcocks Solicitors for their continued support and the DropOff Cafe for their help with the trophies once again.